Houston's Best Bets This Weekend: Hotter Than Hell Burlesque

Judas has a lot to answer for, the feigned loyalty to Jesus followed by the betrayal heard around the world. But if you play devil's advocate and consider his point of view, then was it really all that wrong? Find out in the trial of the century in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot this weekend at Chelsea Market Theater, and keep reading for more of this weekend's best bets.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Chelsea Market Theater Friday, 7:30 p.m. 4617 Montrose

A very strange trial is about to take place in a town called Hope, located in downtown Purgatory, where criminal defense attorney Fabiana Aziza Cunningham has filed for an appeal on behalf of her catatonic client, Judas Iscariot, who has been sentenced to hell. Her opponent is El Fayoumy, the prosecuting attorney from hell, literally from hell. The full-length play by Stephen Adly Guirgis also features expert witnesses Sigmund Freud and Satan. For information, call 281-892-1323 or visit facebook.com/gravityplayers. $25.

Clearly Ms. Redd knows how to keep the summer steamy.

Photo by Alvarado

Hotter Than Hell Burlesque at The Heights TheaterFriday, 9 p.m. 339 West 19th

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what happens when Vegas talent turns up in the Bayou City? H-Town will be scorching when La Divina Productions presents Hotter Than Hell Burlesque at The Heights Theater, with headliner (and Vegas import) Ms. Redd. Joining her on stage for this sizzling performance are Grace Gotham (New York City), La Divina and Minxie Mimieux (Dallas), Rosalee Bloom (Arkansas) and Houston's own Honey Moonpie and Sivene DeLynn. Insiders will recognize Mimieux from her crowning as Queen of Burlesque last year at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival. For information, call 713-861-6070 or visit theheightstheater.com. $25 to $180.

One scoop of chocolate, please?

Photo courtesy of Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream

Ice Cream Social and Pop Up Market at East End Market Friday, 6 p.m. 2800 Navigation

Ice cream trucks and the hunt for them are never-ending. You hear their call but can never quite pin them down. This Friday, though, is your chance to lock your spot in the ice cream line you've been secretly dying for all summer. It's an Ice Cream Social at Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream, where the event plans to help local schools and their wish lists of school supplies. Get a free sweet treat in exchange for a school supply off their wish lists. For information, call 281-935-4099 or visit facebook.com/chocolatewastedicecream. Free.

New to Houston, but proving itself tasty is Krisp Bird & Batter; stop by its booth to get a taste of what it's krispin' up.

Who makes the best fried chicken in Houston? That’s up for debate. But with the inaugural Southern Fried Chicken Festival, we'll know at last whose chicken Houston deems best; this Saturday's festival will feature fried-chicken specialists such as Chops Gourmet Texas Catering, The Waffle Bus, The Bird Food Truck and Pat’s Wings on Wheels cooking for attendees and competing to be fried-chicken champ. The festival, which doubles as a campaign for colon-cancer awareness, will also include vegan eats courtesy of Nicolas Carson, chicken-wing and watermelon-seed-spitting contests, and live musical performances. For information, call 832-633-4587 or visit southernfriedchickenfest.com. $10 to $75.

Heather McCarty waves her magic wand and a venue is instantly transformed into a pop-up art gallery teeming with collectors in search of works by emerging and established artists. Although in this case the magic wand is actually a panel of professional experts and the “fairy godmother” is organizer Conception, a global movement that is mounting shows in Los Angeles, Boston and Houston this month alone. This will be Conception's fifth pop-up in Houston, and they always use SpindleTap Brewery. Expect acoustic music, a laid-back but professional vibe, a cash bar and noshable macarons. For information, visit conception arts.com. Free to $25.

Prepare your eyes for a whole new perspective on Houston when kayaking on the bayou this Saturday night.

While steering a kayak on your next bayou-based adventure, take a peek at one of Houston’s quirkiest, albeit smelly, features: the colony of Mexican free-tailed bats that reside under the Waugh Street bridge. This spinoff of Bayou City Outdoors’ bike-based edition invites folks to BYOK to see a live-action nature special in downtown Houston. “You’d never expect it because you’re in the middle of this massive city, [but] you launch and get on the water and it’s immediately different,” says BCO owner Kelly Howard. “And paddling the bayou at night is a whole new animal.” For information, call 713-524-3567 or visit bayoucityoutdoors.com. Free.

Queen of girl pop, Cyndi Lauper, will set the stage ablaze this weekend at Smart Financial Center.

Who’s the best rock and roll singer? Some say it’s circa right-now Rod Stewart, who’s currently on an 18-city tour with a multi-piece band that includes a saxophonist, a harp player, violinists and dancers. The London-born and -raised, recently knighted Sir Roderick David Stewart, 72, has sold more albums than God, thanks to his hits “Maggie May,” “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” “Young Turks,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “Rhythm of My Heart” and, of course, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” all tunes that have been performed on this tour, according to The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. Opening is Cyndi “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” Lauper, touting her recent, country-tinged Detour album. For information, call 281-207-6278 or visit smartfinancialcentre.net. $94.50 to $154.50.

SUCCESS!

Lannister lovers and Stark supporters will (temporarily) unite the seven kingdoms at Rec Room for laughter, wine and good company to watch this week’s new episode of HBO’s megahit Game of Thrones. “We start an hour before the show goes live,” says host and comedian Kathryn Way. “We chat, get drinks and get comfortable. We watch it in the theater room with the subtitles on. Everyone knows not to talk or I’ll kill them, and we watch the episode. I draw a weekly winner for a medieval dragon goblet — because I’m very extra,” she says, laughing. “Then a panel full of comedians and trivia nerds talk about what we just watched.” Why should you join the fun? Way offers this argument: “Isn’t it the most popular show on television? It averages about 14 deaths per episode, and even people that aren’t that nerdy can be completely into this drama.” For information, call 713-344-1291 or visit recroomhtx.com. Free.